The prestigious Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav is set to make musical history this year as the deep, resonant sounds of the cello will grace the festival for the very first time. The 71st edition of this celebrated event promises to blend tradition with innovation in remarkable ways.
Festival Details and Schedule
The five-day musical extravaganza is scheduled to take place at the Maharashtriya Mandal ground in Mukundnagar from December 10 to December 14. The official lineup was announced on Monday by Shrinivas Joshi, executive president of the organizing body Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal. As the son of the festival's legendary founder Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, he carries forward his father's musical legacy while introducing fresh elements to the classical music landscape.
Western Instruments Take Center Stage
This year's festival features a groundbreaking performance by Saskia Rao-de Haas from the Netherlands, who has mastered the art of playing the heavy bass sounds of the cello within the Indian classical framework. She will perform a captivating duet with renowned sitarist Shubhendra Rao, creating a unique fusion that promises to mesmerize audiences.
While the inclusion of western instruments as main attractions represents a significant shift for the predominantly Indian classical music festival, it's not entirely unprecedented. Past editions have featured notable performances by Adnan Sami on piano, Sajjad Hussain on mandolin, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt on slide guitar, and Kadri Gopalnath on saxophone. However, such instruments have rarely been featured as centerpiece attractions.
Reinforcing this trend of instrumental innovation, saxophonist George Brooks is scheduled to perform alongside sitarist Krishna Bhatt, who happens to be a disciple of the late legendary musician Ravi Shankar.
Diverse Collaborations and Debut Performances
The instrumental lineup showcases several other fascinating collaborations that cross musical boundaries. Violinist Kala Ramnath and veena exponent Jayanthi Kumaresh will present a special Hindustani-Carnatic duet, bridging two major traditions of Indian classical music.
The festival will also welcome several debut performers, including Indrayudh Majumdar on the sarod, who follows in the footsteps of his father, the celebrated sarod player Tejendra Majumdar. Another notable debut comes from L. Shankar, who will showcase his mastery of the double violin.
On the vocal front, Bharat Balvalli emerges as a major attraction, known particularly for his impressive vocal range that has captivated classical music enthusiasts. The coveted finale performances for three of the five festival days will be delivered by veteran vocalists Ulhas Kashalkar, Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, and Venkatesh Kumar, ensuring that traditional vocal excellence remains at the heart of the celebration.
This year's Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav represents a perfect balance between preserving rich musical heritage and embracing innovative collaborations, making it a must-attend event for music lovers in Pune and beyond.
